975: Chef Cleophus Hethington CDC Zak the Baker

Cleophus Hethington is the Chef de cuisine at Zak the Baker in Miami. Chef Ophus started his post-school life in the Navy as a corpsman. He left and worked in healthcare for about 8 years before switching careers entirely and working at Yardbird, opened by John Kunkel, in Miami. He worked in many restaurants, and other cities outside of Miami, before becoming the Chef de Cuisine at Zak the Baker, a nationally-known restaurant among the Wynwood Walls of Miami.

Check out episode 250 and episode 971 with John Kunkel as mentioned in today's episode!

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Favor success quote/mantra:

• "The solution lies in the salt and spices."

In this episode with Cleophus Hethington we will discuss:

• Imposter syndrome
• How the navy prepares you for a civilian career
• Mental health in the industry
• Race in the industry

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which “it factor” habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • I show up
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Communication
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Do you care? Do you show up?
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Patients
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Consistency
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Try to not day no
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Culture tanks
9. What is one thing you don't feel restaurateurs do well enough of often enough?
   • Open restaurants
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • The solution lies in the salt and the spices
    • It's just food
    • Food is a starting point

Contact:

Email: chefophus@gmail.com

Instagram: @chefophus

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Cleophus Hethington for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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